Golf game device



Se t. 19, 1961 H. T. BUTLER, JR 3,000,635

cow GAME DEVICE Filed 001:. 19, 1960 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

BY 2 MM- Sept. 19, 1961 H. 'r. BUTLER, JR

GOLF GAME DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 19, 1960 Hard/e 7." Bur/er,- Jr.

INVENTOR'.

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United States Ratent O 3,000,636 GOLF GAME DEVICE Hardie T. Butler, Jr., 2915 Conrad Ave. SW., Atlanta, Ga. Filed Oct. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 63,528 Claims. (Cl. 273-476) The present invention generally relates to an amusement or game device and more particularly to a device for playing golf in a minimum amount of time and with a amount of walking but yet employing all of the equipment normally employed when playing golf.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a golf game device having nine target areas and nine tee areas oriented alongside of each other so that a round of golf may be played in a minimum amount of time and with only very little walking.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf game device having a novel target structure including a front plate with a plurality of openings therein for entry of the golf ball with the openings being electrically connected to a suitable indicator to indicate which of the several groups of holes the ball entered.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a golf game device including means for retaining the golf balls adjacent the target areas and to prevent loss of the golf balls.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a golf game device requiring only a minimum of space as compared with the space required for a full size golf course.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a golf game device which is simple in construction, easy to use, effective in developing skills required by a golfer, easy to install, fast in use and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the golf game device of the present invention with portions thereof broken away illustrating the details of construction of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front plan view of one of the golf targets with portions broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a schematic view illustrating the construction of the golf target including the mechanism for illuminating the indicator light.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the golf game device of the present invention which is illustrated as including nine target areas generally designated by the numeral 12 and nine teeing areas generally designated by the numeral 14. Extending from the outer edges of the No. l and No. 9 target areas are side fences or wings 16 supported by a suitable vertical post 18 thus retaining balls from proceeding laterally outwardly from the target area.

Each target area 12 includes a rear panel or screen 20 supported on vertical posts 22 and horizontal rail 24. Each target area includes a target plate 26 and a forwardly extending top panel 28 supported by suitable brac ing 30. At the forward edge of the top panel 28, there is provided a depending screen member of mesh material designated by the numeral 32 which includes an enlarged central opening 34 matching the target plate 26 thus preventing golf balls from bouncing back away from the 'ice 2 target plate towards the tee area. The member 20, the member 32 and the member 16 may all be constructed of readily available material and serve to prevent golf balls from rebounding or being lost in relation to the golf game device.

The target plate 26 includes a circular member or square member 36 of plastic material or the like having a plurality of apertures 40 formed therein. The apertures 40 are formed with a single central aperture and two concentric rows of apertures encircling the central aperture whereby balls passing into the apertures 40 will either energize an indicator designated by the numeral 42, an indicator designated by the numeral 44 and an indicator designated by the numeral 46 disposed at the lower right hand corner of the target device. The central or bulls eye opening 40 will energize the indicator 42 thus indicating a hole in one. If the ball passes into an aperture 40 of the first row of apertures, the indicator 44 will be energized thus indicating two strokes for the particular hole. If the golf ball enters an outer row of apertures 40, the indicator will indicate that three balls were required. If the golf ball does not enter any of the holes and bounces off of the target plate, then four strokes are required for the particular hole.

Each teeing area 14 will have a box 48 or the like for tees and golf balls and also a switch 50 will be provided for clearing the score from the indicators.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the details of the mechanism for energizing one of the indicator lights which in this instance will be indicator light'42 which is electrically connected with and energized by the central opening 40 so that a ball entering therein will be registered by the indicator light 42 for indicating only a single stroke was employed. The golf ball is designated by the numeral 52 and actually serves to actuate the indicator light. The opening 40 is provided with an outwardly flared or inclined entrance opening 54 for guiding golf balls into the opening 40. Each of the openings is outwardly flared in order to increase the incidence of the golf balls 52 entering the opening. Immediately rearwardly of the opening is a horizontally disposed tube 56 integrally connected with a downwardly inclined tube 58 having a resilient pad 60 disposed thereon in the path of movement of a golf ball as the golf ball enters horizontally through the tube 56. This will cushion impact of the golf ball with the downwardly inclined tube 58. A resilient flapper 62 is mounted adjacent the forward end of the tube 56 which may be in the form of a resilient member construoted of resilient material or in the nature of a spring hinge which will act somewhat as a check valve to prevent the exit of the golf ball from the opening 40 Thus, if a golf ball 52 enters the tube 56 and strikes the cushion 60 and tends to bounce back towards the opening 40, the flapper 62 will prevent exit of the golf ball from the tube 56.

Extending downwardly from the inclined tube 58 is a vertical tube 64 having tapering side walls but which is provided with an open bottom end 66 for discharge of a golf ball 52 onto the ground surface or into a suitable receptacle provided therefor.

When the golf ball 52 enters the opening 40, it will engage and actuate a feeler arm 68 which closes the circuit to No. 1 light 42 on the scoreboard. After a time delay due to travel, the golf ball 52 will actuate a feeler arm 70 for deenergizing the light 42. When the switch 50 is closed, a solenoid 72 is energized for returning the feeler arm 68 to its switch opening position and the normally open switch arm 70 will also return to its open position.

The indicating lights are visible from the tee area inasmuch as the screen 32 is of mesh material thus enabling observation of the indicating lights. This is also true of the mesh material 20 thus enabling the indicating lights to be mounted rearwardly thereof if desired so that the indicating lights will be in a protected position. As shown in FIGURE 3, the indicating lights are electrically connected to the concentric rows of openings 40 for indicating the entrance position of the ball. Each tee area is provided with numerical indicia for indicating the hole number and this enables a person to play a complete round of golf with the score being recorded in the usual manner whereby a minimum amount of time is required and a minimum amount of walking is required. Any suitable distance may be provided between the tee areas and the targets but it has been found that 50 feet from the tee areas to the target areas is a convenient distance and normally, a person may play 18 holes of golf in approximately 30 minutes.

The path of travel of the golf ball may be tortuous in order to porvide a /2 minute delay in order to read the chart. The second contact 70 may be six feet from switch 68 in order to provide the time delay.

Also, an arrangement may be provided which will involve a hinged door on the back side of the target which is swung open when a golf ball goes through the opening. The door will have contacts to register the score. This will provide a one-piece rear on the target preferably padded with rubber and only one switch for all balls entering the target.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A golf game device comprising a plurality of tee areas, a plurality of target areas, said tee areas being disposed in side-by-side relation to each other, said target areas being disposed in side-by-side relation to each other and in alignment with the respective tee areas, each target area comprising a target plate having a plurality of openings therein, said openings being arranged with one center opening and concentric rings of openings arranged in enclosing relation to the central opening whereby the central opening will form a bulls eye, guide means associated with each opening for guiding a golf ball rearwardly and downwardly therefrom, and indicator means actuated by the golf ball for indicating Whether the golf ball entered the central opening or an opening in one of a concentric rows of openings.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each tee area includes a receptacle for golf tees and a receptacle for golf balls, and switch means for resetting the indicator means.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein the outermost target areas have Wing members extending towards the tee areas for preventing lateral deflection of golf balls from the golf game device, and forwardly projecting top panels at the top edge of each target area for guiding the golf balls towards the target areas.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein each top panel is provided with a depending screen at the forward edge thereof in spaced relation to the target plate, each screen having an enlarged opening therein for enabling passage of golf balls towards the target plate but preventing golf balls from bouncing back towards the golf tee areas.

5. The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said indicator means includes an electrical circuit, an indicator light in the circuit, a first golf ball actuated switch for setting the circuit, and a second golf ball actuated switch for closing the circuit and energizing the indicator light, a solenoid electrically connected to the switch at the tee area for returning the first switch to an open position thus breaking the circuit and resetting the circuit and the second golf ball actuated switch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,173,014 Hall Sept. 12, 1939 2,220,492 Piesco Nov. 5, 1940 2,592,429 Kimmel et a1 Apr. 8, 1952 2,954,232 Auer Sept. 27, 1960 

